One of the main novelties of the ninth edition of FRUIT ATTRACTION is that it will host the Global Fresh Market Forum, in which there will be two business meetings, one with Brazil and another one with China, so as to promote trade. The meetings, which will be held at the FRUIT FORUM 9, pavilion 9, will take place on the first day of the fair, on Wednesday, October 18, from 16:00 to 18:00.

Brazil and China are the "Guest Importing Countries", a new commercial tool in this year's edition that will include the participation of purchasing managers, operators, importers, and other people from Brazil and China. The goal is to develop institutional and commercial actions during Fruit Attraction to foster the growth and development of business relations.

The Spain-Brazil Business Meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 18, at 16:00 in Fruit Forum 9, pavilion 9 and it will address the potential for the development of fruit and vegetable trade between the two countries, from the business and labor perspectives taking into account that the access conditions to these markets largely determine the development of trade between these countries, and Spain and the EU as a whole. Speakers include the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Supply of Brazil, Eumar Roberto Novacki, the Secretary General of Agriculture of MAPAMA, Carlos Cabanas, and the director of FEPEX, Jose Maria Pozancos.

The business sector will be represented by Brazilian and Spanish entrepreneurs with experience in this country, such as Alfonso Tarazona, president of Tara Onions and of the Spanish Association of Onion Harvesting-Exporters (ACEC), who will analyze this market's opportunities, and Atanasio Naranjo, the president of Tany Nature and of the Association of Fruit Growers of Extremadura (AFRUEX), both of which are member associations of FEPEX, who will speak about the stone fruit shipments.

The Spain-China business meeting will take place from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm in FRUIT FORUM 9 (pavilion 9) and it will be attended by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness Ministry and prominent Spanish businessmen. One of them is Jose Gandia, the president of SAT Royal, one of the leading Spanish fruit exporting companies, who will speak about China's potential for Spanish stone fruit. Another is Juan Montilla, the president of Juan Montilla SL, who will speak about his experience in the citrus sector.

The Global Fresh Forum Market is being organized by FEPEX and IFEMA, along with the Foreign Trade Institute (ICEX) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment.

Trade between Spain and the EU with Brazil

In 2016, Spanish horticultural exports to Brazil amounted to 100,305 tons worth 109 million euro, making them the first non-Community destination of Spanish exports. The highest volumes, in fruits, corresponded to plums and oranges and, in vegetables, to onions. In 2017, up until the month of July, Spanish exports totaled 43,425 tons worth 45.8 million euro.

Meanwhile, in 2016 EU's exports to Brazil stood at 269,052 tons worth 226 million euro and Spain was the Member State that exported the most to Brazil. Up until July 2017, Community exports stood at 101,429 tons, worth 83 million euro, according to data from the European Bureau of Statistics, processed by FEPEX.

Trade between Spain and the EU with China

Spain exported 14,244 tons fresh fruits and vegetables worth 16 million euro to China in 2016, i.e. 262% and 308% more than in 2015, respectively, according to data from the Customs and Excise Department of the Tax Agency, processed by FEPEX. Citrus fruits are the main product shipped to China. It is followed by stone fruits, which began to be exported last year, after the signing of a Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements between the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine of the China PR in Beijing (AQSIQ) in April 2016. In 2017, up until July, horticultural exports to China amounted to 18,121 tons worth 20.8 million euro, i.e. 52% and 60% more than in the same period of 2016, respectively.

In 2016 Community exports of fresh fruit and vegetables to China amounted to 37,047 tons, 63% more than in 2016, worth € 54 million (+50%), and Spain was the Member State that exported the most to China. Up until July 2017 exports grew by 26% compared to the same months of 2016, totaling 23,354 tons, worth 31.7 million euro (+37%).